A SAFETY watchdog has warned of the dangers of trying to board a train when the door alarm is sounding, as new figures show that 70 per cent of passengers would do so.

The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) findings coincide with trade unions highlighting the safety implications of not having guards on trains, as privateers such as Southern and South West Railway plan to axe the safety critical roles.

Several passengers have been injured in recent years after becoming trapped in the doors and dragged by trains.

In 2015, a 60-year-old woman was dragged for 19 yards along the platform at Hayes and Harlington station in west London after her hand got trapped in the door.

Similar incidents have occurred at West Wickham in south London, Newcastle Central and on the Tyne and Wear Metro in Jarrow.

RSSB specialist Paul Leach said: “Despite their appearance, train doors are not like lift doors and won’t necessarily reopen if something is trapped in them.”

There were 1,515 incidents on railway station platform edges in 2015-16.